Do you need to set work-place boundaries?

work-place boundaries

I recently had a client who needed to set some serious boundaries at work.

She is a RN working for a specialty surgeon. The surgeon owns his practice and is very aware of incoming profits. The surgeon is also a generous human who always wants to be there for the patients.

However, these commitments were often at the expense of the staff.

My client would arrive to work by 0730 to make sure everything was prepared for the day. The day was filled with consults, follow-ups, and in office procedures. The days were so busy that my client did not have enough time to complete charting, ordering, stocking, cleaning, etc. and would often stay late.

On occasion, the surgeon would want to get a late afternoon patient in for a non-emergent procedure which meant the team would stay as late as 1930.

These busy days and unappreciated tasks often went unnoticed.

Until my client was on the verge of burnout.

The generosity of the surgeon and hard work of my client made work-life balance difficult.

After some discussion in our coaching call, my client was able to recognize the unhealthy boundaries. She wanted to establish healthy boundaries that would be beneficial for her AND her employer.

My client realized the importance of saying “No” and not being a “people pleaser.” She was able to discover the true emotions behind the unhealthy boundaries. For example, my client felt guilty for working late and not showing up for her husband.

We then developed a plan to rewrite the unhealthy boundary.

In this case, my client discussed the concerns with her boss.

It turns out, the surgeon was also feeling burned-out.

Although the days in the office are still busy, the team found ways to lighten the load. The surgeon no longer stays late to do extra procedures. The office even started closing on Friday afternoons to allow for time off for the staff.

By setting these healthy boundaries, my client was able to still love her job AND her life.

Erica D the NP is a family nurse practitioner and burnout coach. Erica created The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner to help overwhelmed APRNs create work-life balance, overcome nurse practitioner burnout, and advocate for themselves. The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner offers online courses, coaching, and support. Learn more at www.burnedoutnp.com

For time management and charting tips, check out The Nurse Practitioner Charting School– The one stop for all documentation resources created specifically for nurse practitioners. Learn more at www.npchartingschool.com

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**Full disclosure, this blog post may include affiliate links. I do receive a commission if any of the affiliate programs/services/supplies are purchased. This is at no extra cost to you but does allow me to continue to provide content as The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner! Thank you!

Burned Out NP Logo

**Full disclosure, this blog post may include affiliate links. I do receive a commission if any of the affiliate programs/services/supplies are purchased. This is at no extra cost to you but does allow me to continue to provide content as The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner! Thank you!

If You Need Help or Have Some Question, Consultation with Us

erica@burnedoutnp.com

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